Cartier Love Bracelet

Designed in the 1970's, this bracelet is part of the Cartier Love Collection. It's fastened with a tiny screw and comes with a tiny screwdriver to open and close it.

In other words, your loved one gives you the bracelet, locks you in, and keeps the screwdriver.

Famous couples who have "locked" each other up -- Nancy & Frank Sinatra, Ali McGraw & Steve McQueen, Sophia Loren & Carlo Ponti, and the Duke & Duchess of Windsor, and Richard Burton & Elizabeth Taylor.


How cute ... in a barbaric, misogynistic way.

But really - I think it's a very simple, yet classic piece of jewelry. Very pretty! Plus, the symbolism is real nice.


Vendor: Cartier
Price: $2975 (for 18K gold; also available in white gold)

Gucci Pelham

Gucci Shoulder Bag



Why I like it:

• The single cloth strap with Gucci's signature Red/Green stripe
• The gold hardware and studs at the bottom give it that extra ~bling~
• Best Part: The strap is long enough (for me) to wear it across my chest as a messenger bag. Trust me - it looks fantastic.
  

It was actually a toss up for me between this bag and the Miu Miu Leather Satchel. In the end, I preferred something "prettier" and less casual looking. Plus, the Gucci is a classic - it can always wait. (Plus, it might go on sale in June!)

Vendor: Gucci
Price: $1040

Camera Lenses

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM


To meet user demands for a fast EF-S zoom lens, Canon has specially designed a new lens with a large aperture of f/2.8 for select Canon Digital SLR cameras. The large circular aperture produces a shallow depth-of-field, creating background blur that draws attention to the photographic subject.

Vendor: Amazon
Price: $516.83
Sample Picture (click to enlarge):

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Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM


Standard zoom lens with an Image Stabilizer and high zoom ratio. With the Image Stabilizer turned on, you can obtain sharp, natural-looking pictures in dim lighting without using flash or a tripod. Very handy for places where flash is prohibited.

Vendor: Amazon
Price: $409.88
Sample Picture (click to enlarge):

Giada de Laurentiis

I love you, Giada. Even though your huge head is always making this face:



But your show is delightful to watch.

Here's an easy twist on a classic cookie that I saw this past week on Everyday Italian - just add Nutella!

Side note - "biscotti" is just "cookie" in Italian. It doesn't necessarily mean that it's hard and crunchy and that you have to have it with coffee. You so smart, Giada! And I like how you pronounce it "beez - koh - tee."


Chocolate Hazlenut Biscotti.



Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread (recommended: Nutella)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup chopped toasted hazelnuts

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. In another medium bowl combine the butter, chocolate hazelnut spread, sugar, and brown sugar. Using an electric mixer, cream the ingredients together, about 4 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until smooth, about 1 minute. Using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, stir in the flour mixture until just combined. Add the hazelnuts and stir until just combined.
4. Using a tablespoon measure, spoon out the cookie dough onto a cookie sheet, spacing the mounds about 4 inches apart. Use the tines of a fork to flatten the cookie dough. Bake until lightly golden around the edges, about 10 to 12 minutes. Use a metal spatula to transfer the cookies to a wire rack and let cool. Makes 3 dozen.
   

Sartorialist Inspiration

the combination of:

• socks over tights
• military coat (with big metal buttons)
• satchel with shoulder strap
• long leather gloves

is pure genius.




the scarf adds so much to this outfit. so simple, but so important.


picture credits: The Sartorialist
click on the pictures to see them in detail

Tiffany

What is it about Tiffany? There must be something about that distinctive blue box that causes a chemical reaction in a girl's brain. BZZ BZZ TIFFANY BZZ INSTANT HAPPY

Simple elegance. That's key.

Here are a few favorite classic pieces that I've had my eye on for years. Well, the affordable ones, anyways. (My Lucida ring will come at a later time.)




Beaded Bracelet
price: $150




Elsa Peretti "T" Necklace
price: $145




Elsa Peretti Bean
price: $145

Dark Chocolate Puds

For Valentine's Day, the bf and I ate at Arcadia, the new Michael Minna restaurant. For dessert, we ordered some molten chocolate cake thing. While it was delicious, I conceded that the Godiva Chocolate Cake at Morton's was better - if not for the heaping scoop of Haagen Dazs vanilla and fresh berries that come with it.

I managed to find a simple, but similar recipe online that doesn't involve the horrifying word "souffle" (so hard to make!)

Dark Chocolate Puds
GoodFood Magazine: 101 Tempting Desserts.

INGREDIENTS

• 8 tbsp butter, chopped and extra for greasing
• 4 tbsp plain plour, plus extra for dusting
• 100g (about 1/2 cup) bar dark chocolate, broken
• 8 cubes of GOOD dark chocolate
  
• 3 eggs
• 6 tbsp superfine sugar (can also put regular granulated sugar through food processor)
  

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven at 400F. Butter and lightly flour muffin tray.
2. Melt dark chocolate and butter in microwave, roughly 2 mins.
   
3. Whisk eggs and sugar until mixture leaves a trail on top when whisk blades are lifted.
4. Stir in flour, then chocolate mixture.
5. Pour into muffin tray.
6. Push in a cube of dark chocolate into center of each (nice and deep!).
7. Place on baking tray and bake 16-20mins.
8. Cool for 5 mins, and turn out onto plates.
9. Serve with vanilla icecream and tart berries (like raspberries!). Serves 8

True Religion - Johnny

Straight leg True Religions in "Urban Cowboy Dark"

I used to have an aversion to True Religions because (1) my butt is nonexistant in them and (2) they looked obnoxious. However, True Religion has come out w/ different cuts in the past 2 years or so that look so much better - mostly b/c they have smaller pockets that don't sit so low on your butt.

So now, I'm a fan. True Religions fit me particularly well b/c they tend to have a very low rise, which is good b/c I have no torso. Yes, I have no torso and no butt. And big calves. I look weird.

These straight legs fit really well and are skinny enough to wear under boots, but wide enough to wear with flats or over heels. I have 2 pairs (this one and the black ones) and want another!


price: $170-262 (different styles, same cut)
vendor: Revolveclothing.com, Shopbop.com

Paige Premium Denim - Blue Heights

Skinny Paige jeans in "Greywalls"

First of all, I heart Paige jeans. Best stretch jeans ever because they retain their shape. YES it's true. Now, don't get me wrong - my favorite jeans are still my old reliable Sevens ... but Sevens have a tendency to stretch out.

It's the perfect shade of grey (i.e., not too light and not dark enough to just look faded black). Best part? Even my massive calves fit in these! I might even be able to wear them on their own, WITHOUT high boots over them.

Actually, this is questionable. Whatever, I still want them.


price: $179
vendor: Shopbop.com, Revolveclothing.com

The Rapture

Just another NYC band? Maybe, but their punk sound has a very electronic/dance beat - which is always good. Kind of LCD Soundsystem-esque.

Choice songs on this new album:

• Get Myself Into It
• The Sound
  
• Don Gon Do It.
• Whoo! Alright — Yeah... Uh Huh

Website: http://www.therapturemusic.com/

Miu Miu Calf Leather Satchel

I'm in love with this bag. The obsession has been going on for nearly a year.

The best part? A detachable shoulder strap. It's so fabulous I want to die.


size (large): 10 1/4"H x 14 1/2"W x 6"D
price: $1050
vendor: Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman

size (small): 6½"H X 12½L X 4½W
price: $995
vendor: Saks

3 - 2- 1 Lift Off

Here's to the launch of Phi Style - an egocentric blog of my greatest loves in the whole wide world.

Food, Fashion, and Music - really, what else is there?